Joel Jagatin Tagaan
Event Date: May 13, 2006
Cruise Bruise: Murdered Onboard
Bruise Location: Off Dutch coast
Age: 39
Home Town: Phillippines
Cruise Line: Cunard
Cruise Ship: Queen Mary 2
Details:
Tagaan was a 39 year old Filipino man who died after becoming involved in a fight below decks, in the crew area of the ship.
The crew member suffered serious head injuries after a fight with another crew member.
The crew member was airlifted from the Queen Mary 2, but died en route to a hospital in the Netherlands.
The 49 year old Filipino crew member accused of causing the injuries was confined to his cabin until police arrived.
Four detectives and three crime scene investigators have flown to Norway and boarded the ship at Bergen, staying onboard during the rest of the cruise to conduct an investigation of crew members who witnessed the fight.
Hampshire officers were conducting the investigation because the ship is registered in Southampton.
Cunard staff were contacting the dead man's family in the Philippines.
The cruise continued as scheduled with no passengers affected.
At trial Tagaan's wife spoke. 'I make this statement in order to assist the court in understanding the emotional and financial impact that the sudden death of my husband [Joel Tagaan] has had on myself, our children and his elderly parents, and to give some details about my husband.
'Joel and I had a very happy marriage; we did not like being separated for the long periods [of his work on ships] but had wonderful family times when Joel was home. He was the best and kindest husband and a very caring and loving father to his [two] children.'
On September 22, 2006, Rodolfo Detecio Juanga pleaded guilty to the murder of Joel Jagatin Tagaan on board the Queen Mary 2 on 12 May 2006.
Juanga admitted murder on the high seas on July 27, 2006. The victim had been attacked with a hammer while he was sitting eating a meal in the crew canteen while the ship was at sea 70 miles off the Dutch coast.
Judge Michael Broderick sentenced Juanga to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 13 years.
Joel Jagatin Tagaan
Murdered Cruise Ship Crew Member
Cunard Line Queen Mary 2 - May 13, 2006
